Tam the marmoset may have only arrived in Launceston last week, but Tasmania Zoo staff weren’t going to let her first birthday pass without a celebration.
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The one-year-old, who arrived with Carly the marmoset from New South Wales’s Altina Zoo last week, marked the occasion with a feast of mealworms – the monkey equivalent of chocolate.
Tasmania Zoo headkeeper Emma Morgan said Tam and Carly had already paired off with the zoo’s two male marmosets.
“We've separated our two boys, and a boy and a girl usually don't fight so they're a good two to have together,” Miss Morgan said.
“We've seen lots of mating happening - especially between Goliath and Carly - so I reckon in six months time we're going to have twins and that will start our family group.”
Miss Morgan said marmosets could live for 15 years in captivity and 12 years in the wild.
“The female is the boss of the group, which Goliath won't be happy about in the end because he thinks he's boss, so Tam and Carly will be the boss of the group.
“They're a bit happier in a family group and they're a very social animal too, so they need to be kept in big numbers.”
Tasmania Zoo will celebrate its 14th birthday next weekend.